On today's episode, we discuss what brand-new forecasts the forecasting team cooked up in Q1, including time spent with TikTok and some direct-to-consumer (D2C) numbers. We then talk about say-through rates for voice ads, the battle between host-read and preproduced ads, and how knowledge workers will soon use a virtual assistant every day. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior director of forecasting Shelleen Shum, directors of forecasting Oscar Orozco and Cindy Liu, and forecasting analyst at Insider Intelligence Peter Vahle.

Here’s how publishers are developing and expanding their ecommerce monetization strategies, and how brands and retailers can partner with them to drive purchases in the affiliate channel.

With a TikTok Business Account, brands can see real-time metrics on content performance, get insights on their follower base, and add contact information and a website link to their official TikTok profile page. Through social listening, marketers should pay attention to how the TikTok community is engaging with their brand. “And when I say engaging, I don’t mean commenting.

And while YouTube’s vast library of user-generated content is great for driving viewership, marketers have to worry about brand safety and suitability more than they would on traditional TV. That’s becoming an even bigger issue as more streaming services with extensive (and quality-assured) libraries like HBO Max and Paramount+ launch ad-supported tiers that could threaten YouTube’s dominance.

On today's episode, we discuss how time spent watching TV is changing, how TV ads favorability stacks up against other formats, and what's contributing to TV ad spending's resilience. We then talk about Paramount+ introducing a new tier with ads, how much time people spend with subscription-based vs. ad-supported video, and how much money are people willing to spend for the video streaming entertainment. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior analyst at Insider Intelligence Ross Benes.

The K-Shaped Recovery for Brand vs. Performance Advertising. The country may have hoped for a quick V-shaped recovery from the pandemic recession last year, but that doesn’t seem to have come to pass on a macroeconomic level. Instead, we appear to be in a K-shaped recovery, where some industries bounced back quickly and others—the most commonly cited is travel—have not.

Many consumers still consider email to be their preferred channel for receiving brand communications. Much of the data suggests that email has become more important, not less, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The dominant digital path to purchase begins with a product search—often unbranded—during which the consumer demonstrates intent. They are subsequently delivered paid and organic results for relevant brands and retailers, steering them in the direction of a conversion event. But what about all those times when a consumer doesn’t know what they want? That’s the opportunity for discovery, and where social commerce platforms are beginning to fill the void.